** I really love and appreciate all of the supportive comments. It will take me a while to get through them all, but I do intend to respond to every one. **

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A wee bit of a ranty stamp, but purposely done in a non-ranty way...

This piece was prompted by a couple of online incidents I've had over the last few weeks. On one occasion, I simply asked how someone was doing, since they were going through a difficult period, and I was lambasted by one of their friends for being inconsiderate for expecting the person to talk about it. This just perplexed me, because I have always heard people complain about the opposite--that they would feel upset when no one cared enough to ask how they were doing. On another occasion, I was accused of being phony when I simply tried to be nice to someone. Truly, does the world expect, or even prefer, everyone to be jerks?

I know some people think that my nice-ness is fake, but it's not. I once read somewhere that throughout history, and in most cultures (even those with no connection to each other), there is some form of the Golden Rule. Namely, treat people how you want to be treated. So, it's not an un-natural thing to expect others to be polite and extend common courtesy. I simply live by that philosophy. I am just continually boggled how people get so much crap and abuse when they are only trying to be nice and helpful. And it saddens me that so many people feel totally okay making someone else feel like dirt.

And before anyone decides to go on a tirade here and justify why being cruel and abusive to others is okay, don't do it. Any comments that are overtly mean, disrespectful, or snarky will be hidden without warning--and I will do it at my sole discretion. I do not subscribe to the idea that you only need to be nice to people who "deserve" it, since that is wholly subjective. I agree that you don't have to hug every stranger you meet, but you don't have the right to kick them, either.

New stamp template by me. I may release later. Pixel font can be found in my resource folder ---> [link]

*** As with most of my smileys, you may use this on and off dA, without my permission. The only thing I ask is that you keep the file name in tact and don't remove any credit information. If you do use it for something, it would be nice if you could comment and let me know. It encourages me to make more smileys if I know people are using/enjoying them.

It's been suggested that video games can desensitize people to violence through reducing targets to objects devoid of humanity. Same is probably true for reducing people to pixels and words types- it's just so much easier to be cruel when you don't have to deal with the fallout or see the other person as an individual human being.

Believe what? The video game thing? I don't know, the evidence is still pretty split at this point. It's just something to keep in mind as a possibility. (hence why I said "suggested") The internet thing? Yeah. Cyberbullying is a lot easier than in-person bullying, because there's very little chance you'll get caught, and people get "brave" behind a screen. And even if you do, the worst thing that can happen is an IP ban.

I've lost my faith in humanity by a great amount after the years of bullying when I was still in school, as well as everywhere where good things seem to be non-existant. Whether it be in game communities, internet in general or just out there, being nice and polite is almost like a taboo.If you're nice, you become the black sheep. If you don't follow the "cool gangs", you become the black sheep. If you don't do this or that, that isn't something bad, then you become the black sheep.

Sheesh.. I don't remember literally shoulder barging people to be a way of saying "Hello."And seeing the kids around from the school I used to go to, from the years that have passed from my own school times, it seems like nothing has changed. And it looks like at this rate, nothing would.

Still, we cannot lose hope. Perhaps one day.. one day in the ever distant future we might see a day when being good is actually seen good.

"If everyone cared and nobody cried; if everyone loved and nobody lied; if everyone shared and swalloed their pride, then we'd see a day when nobody died." - Nickleback, If Everyone Cared ( I believe that was the song name.. )

I've ALWAYS been to kind for people. I have bullying and abuse for that problem! Not to mention I always have to really sarcastic and become a smartass to someone who doesn't deserve my attention AT ALL. I mean, if you hate for NO REASON and start bashing me, There. Will. Be. HELL. Not to mention that I'm a fourth degree black belt in mixed martial arts. :3 Always helps!

Yeah, isn't it weird that politeness is immediately read as gay by some people?

There's this once video I remember a comedian saying something like, "All these rough and tumble men are so afraid of being cultured, because they are afraid of the gay. Like, if you read a book, you're going to get a million dicks in your face. Like, what even?"

I can understand being a gentleman is a little out of fashion, but really???

Femmephobia is at an all-time high, it seems. At least once, femininity was prized, if subjugated (bird in a gilded cage) but now it's outright derided. Dominant and overbearing women are seen as empowered and forward-thinking, while those who may be okay with being sweet and feminine are chastised as self-deluded and backwards. Can't we all just be who we are without getting slammed for it?